How do I get the bolts into...

Discussion in 'V-8 Buick Powered Regals' started by gs_jimmy, Nov 11, 2010.

  1. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    Thanks, I'll check 'em out.

    Jim
     
  2. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    Major Problems

    well.....

    I was doing the final mock up on the serp system and ran into a major problem. The additional length of the engine block pushed the pwower steering pump into the steering box. Not just a little bit either.

    So, sfter some thinkin' I'm NOT going to be able to use this driveline in the GN body. So what I'll be doing is running the Stage 1 as a N/A motor.

    On the flip side, I do have a second 455 & TH400 as well as a Vega with tube chassis. I could build that one after the GN project. Has a power rack & Mustang II suspension up front. That could be cool!
     
  3. regal81455

    regal81455 Well-Known Member

    Re: Major Problems

    Im confused - how is your p/s pump near the steering box if your using a GN setup?? Mine is atleast 10" away from it???
     
  4. Don Palumbo

    Don Palumbo Well-Known Member

    I did mine with out removing or cutting anything , it was a pain but with a swivel and a extention I got all the bolts in.. I had a bare block to help line everything up. Bolted the motor mounts and the frame plates to the block lower everything into place, (Engine and trans) then took some white spray paint and painted around the frame pads, removed block put the frame pads back on frame following the outline of the paint. Sprayed the pads again to mark the holes, then drilled. everything fell right into place like it was there the whole time..
     
  5. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    Progress!

    Over the weekend I was able to get the front clip back on the car. Still need to get it back on the ground to cinch down the core support.

    I also got the trans mount aligned! everything is now centered in the tunnel, but I need a "long" TH 400 yoke to compensate for the difference in the driveline.

    The last thing I got to was wet sanding the hood to remove overspray (primer?). I'm going to hit it with 1500, then my buffer. If it gets thin or needs more than a buff, ITs off to body shop with the spoiler.

    Still working on the exhaust, final hook ups and cooling system. But a snow day is coming up on WED, so maybe I can get to some of this stuff then.

    Jim :idea2:
     
  6. STAGE-2 TORQUE

    STAGE-2 TORQUE STAGE-1 Buick "494Stroker" in 2021

    ... SAME here.
     
  7. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    Getting real close to driving this beast! Need to run the exhaust yet and start to work on the details. Maybe this weekend!
     
  8. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    Getting really close now. Put my black bumpers on this week, need to align the front sheet metal, install the exhaust. Also need to paint/install the rear spoiler. Again, very close - it runs/drives now!
     
  9. STAGE-2 TORQUE

    STAGE-2 TORQUE STAGE-1 Buick "494Stroker" in 2021


    ... ENJOY IT. :beers2::TU::TU::beers2:
     
  10. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    Here are the updated progress photos!
     

    Attached Files:

  11. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    Repainted the rear spoiler last night. Got the fit down the night before. Polish out the deck & install it tonight!
     
  12. v8regalowner

    v8regalowner Silver level contributor

    its looking good man.:TU:
     
  13. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    Car show season

    Working on getting ready for a local car show. Doing the wet sanding on the paint (hood, roof & deck lid) and polishing out everything. The sides really laid down nice & flat. Shine is great too! Have about 2-3 more hours to go and the body will be looking very nice!

    I also have a floor section coming for the drivers side. There was a bunch of concern over an old repair that could be seen from the underside. So once thats gone & fixed right....

    I have 3 more nights to get the little stuff done, wish me luck.
     
  14. regal81455

    regal81455 Well-Known Member

    Good luck man its looking good! Nice 2 see a bunch of these regals starting to terrorize the streets!!!
     
  15. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    Did the deck lid last night, 1500 grit, HD compound & Race Glaze. Needs more work, but getting there. Paint surface is nice with miniumal orange peel. Shooting for having the buff work done this evening, then finishing the odds & ends friday night. Most likely will run with open exhaust to the show!
     
  16. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    Wet sanding

    I hate wet sanding. Yep, it's official, I hate it.

    Have around 15 hours into the polishing of the car (parked near a tree with sap or something) The sides are awesome, roof is good, but the deck & hood are still showing sanding marks (1500 grit). I may have to go up to 2000/2500 on my DA to get them fully "out".

    Saturday is the local show and I have about 15 hours of work to do yet (and only about 6 hours available).

    Jim
     
  17. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    Well I got the car out on the road. Still working on the polishing in a few places, but the paint looks nice. Once I had the car out on the road I noticed that the shifter seems to be out of adjustment some and that the "shift" feels lazy. I did tweak the vaccuum modulator when I dropped in the engine, so my thought is a vac. leak that is causing a misread vac. signal.

    Motor runs strong as ever! Right now just running straight pipes back to where the mufflers should be, it's kinda loud :3gears:

    So, next up is the detail work :idea2: can be a long process, so the sooner I can get at it.... But first up is Scout camp & a Jimmy Buffett Concert.

    Anyway, I'll try and get the car posted in the for sale section after the 4th or so. Is turning out to be a decent runner.

    Jim
     
  18. regal81455

    regal81455 Well-Known Member

    After all this work your going to be selling it?! :Do No: Did I miss this in a previous posting?
     
  19. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    I have several projects that need attention. Next up is a completion of a '64 Chevy II 400 series. Project "Barn Find" - Right out of 1974/75! Has a BBC/TH400/9" with a Mustang II front stub (2x3 fabbed tube) & rack & pinion. Body will be Butternut Yellow, black lace painted graphics, period correct decals and of course it will be named. I may also go with a 4 link for drivability.

    Then after that is my 1976 Vega - tube chassis, pro touring, type vehicle. Maybe with an LS power plant (5.3?). Painted the tub last summer (IH Red, single stage). Still trying to complete a GT interior. It's a work in progress (last 5 years)

    And of course I had to start another V8 S-10 for a guy in CO. At least that one is sold! Almost ready to get it running (couple weeks) L69 305/TH700R4 & 3.08 gears. That one will be gone at the end of the summer.

    Currently on the back burner is my '69 GS California. Might go with LS power on that one too. Otherwise I do have a complete '72 GS455 motor & trans, Elgin cam, and will find a B4B intake. I'll be dragging that out of storage and putting it on the stand soon to make sure I have everything.

    At least I have my youngest interested in cars, so some help there.
     
  20. gs_jimmy

    gs_jimmy Well-Known Member

    Trans dillema solved

    Well I figured out the lazy shifting problem. Was a bad vac. adv. can (bent) that did not function due to the guts not moving correctly. So I switched to a Red Stripe small can, that made the trans go 1-2-3 in about 200 feet.

    So I switched that out to a "big style" advance. Seems to operate correctly now. Next problem to address is the rear gears. What I suspect to be a set of 2.91 gears, may in fact be a 2.41 gear set. Did some checking on available ratios for '81/'82 G-bodies and found no listing at all for a 2.91 gear. I know it was available on H-bodies in '76/'77 in a 6.5 inch rear.

    So, the problem is a soft launch. What I'm considering is a move to a 3.73 or 4.10 gear. Seems the only economical way to accomplish this is by swapping to a Monte Carlo SS rear. This is due to the 26 spline count of the G-body axle shaft (28.437" long, v. S10 @ 26.750).

    I do have a gear set & carrier that could be used, but run into the spline issue and the $275 on a set of axles is out of my budget.

    Next possibility is to use the 3.73/4.10 gear set, but then would need a ring gear spacer ($55 shipping inc.). This would allow me to set-up and run the 3 series gear with a 2 series carrier. I'm thinking of going this route, but the 26 spline "weak" axles are concerning. Car runs a 235/65R15 tire & open rearend. THinking that the new found torque is gonna bust it right away.

    Last option is a GN/442 open rearend. This runs in the $400+ range, so now the budget thing hits me again......

    One other thing, I might add a Buick Hood Tach to this ...... THOUGHTS?
     

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